Rice traders at the popular Bodija market have protested to the Agodi Secretariat demanding justice on the carting away of hundred bags of rice by the Nigeria Custom Service, NCS, in the early hours of Thursday April 1st, 2021.
The protesters, who marched to the Agodi Secretariat in sorrowful look, said about 88 shops were burgled by officials of NCS at the Bodija market after all traders had closed for the day and gone to sleep.
Some of the affected traders narrated their ordeal, noting that the money invested in the businesses was loan yet to be repaid
They called on governments at all levels to assist them on the matter
In an interview with the Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Oyo/Osun, Mr Wey Kayode who confirmed the incident, said it was a normal routine operation carried out by the headquarters of NCS in Abuja.
Mr Wey explained that the operation was totally based on standard regulation to rid the country of contraband goods.
On the allegation that officials of NCS took about N27m in three shops with the imported rice,Mr Wey maintained that only imported rice were carted away.
Speaking with the aggrieved traders, Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, Mr Sunday Odukoya, explained that Oyo State Government had intervened on the development which revealed that the operation was not done by the Nigeria Custom Service Oyo/Osun command.
Mr Odukoya appealed for calm among the affected traders adding that the state government would further look into the matter.
It was reported that men of Nigeria Customs Service had invaded the Akala complex of Bodija market at 1am on Thursday and carted away hundreds of bags of imported rice.
Iyabo Adebisi
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